Urban Soul Grille relocating to city

Ebony Thomas is bringing her special brand of soul food to Mentor.

The Shaker Heights area resident is relocating her Urban Soul Grille restaurant from St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland to the former Family Pizza Restaurant spot at 7502 Mentor Ave., next door to Shamrock Inn.

“I believe that the market in Mentor is better for the clientele I’m trying to reach,” she said. “Mentor is a diverse city and I believe the community in Mentor will be willing to try different food options, particularly my vegan soul food-infused offerings.”

Her menu includes a number of dishes tailored to vegans who are “tired of the same food choices that many restaurants offer.”

“We’re not just offering salad or fruit bowls,” she said. “We have a variety of options, such as ‘chicken’ ribs, ‘pulled pork’ pizza, and our famous macaroni and cheese. I’m trying to fill a void that many of my vegetarian and vegan friends expressed a need to be filled.”

She accomplishes creating these comfort foods by using meat

“Mentor is a diverse city and I believe the community in Mentor will be willing to try different food options...” — Owner Ebony Thomas

“I’ve been cooking since I was 5 years old. My grandmother taught me how to cook from recipes that were handed down from generation to generation, soul food being the family specialty.” — Ebony Thomas

substitutes, including seitan, also known as “wheat meat.”

“Vegans enjoy hearty

and well-seasoned food like any other foodie,” she said. “Soul food is just a style of cooking that brings flare and a unique twist to vegan eating. I conducted extensive market research that showed that there is a

demand for this niche style of cuisine, and I’m here to meet that demand.”

Thomas got into the food business after bartending for a friend who had an empty restaurant next door. She asked to lease it.

“I’ve been cooking since I was 5 years old,” she said. “My grandmother taught me how to cook from recipes that were handed down from generation to generation, soul food being the family specialty. The food offerings at my first restaurant were incredibly popular, but I had many friends who were vegetarian or vegan who wanted my menu to feature options for them as well. I am always willing to try new things in the kitchen, and I believed that this was a challenge I had to undertake!”

She and partner Kelvin Davis plan to open in Mentor in mid-July. In the meantime, they will be offering her vegan fare at pop-up events around the Greater Cleveland area.